Written By Admin
on
Thursday, July 21, 2016
|
8:41:00 AM

Cherries, often regarded as a dessert fruit, are popular worldwide due to their unique taste and flavor.

Apart from being tasty, cherries have a healthy side, too. They are rich in antioxidants and many other health-promoting polyphenol and phytosterol compounds.They are also good sources of dietary fiber, potassium, protein, and vitamins A and C. In addition, they contain copper, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus and zinc.

health benefits of cherries

Here are the top 6 health benefits of cherries.

1.Eases Pain and Inflammation

Those who suffer from pain, such as arthritis pain, should add cherries to their diet.

Cherries contain high levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins that have anti-inflammatory properties that help reverse oxidative damage, which can increase pain and inflammation in the body.

It can even reduce painful inflammation by decreasing the amount of C-reactive proteins produced in the body.

Helps You Sleep Better

Tart cherries contain melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle and makes you feel sleepy.In fact, it increases exogenous melatonin in the body that is beneficial in improving sleep duration and quality.

If you are having problems sleeping, aim to drink ½ to 1cup of tart cherry juice twice daily.

Reduces Muscle Soreness

Cherries, especially tart cherries, have a positive effect on muscle pain. Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, tart cherries are highly beneficial for people suffering from muscle pain, arthritis or fibromyalgia.In fact, these cherries have a protective effect in reducing muscle damage and pain during strenuous exercise.

A 2010 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition reports that intake of 24 ounces of tart cherry juice for seven days prior to and during a strenuous running event can help reduce post-run muscle pain.

Decreases Belly Fat

Belly fat, the most stubborn fat in the body, is hard to burn off. Now, you can get rid of it by including cherries in your diet.

They have high concentrations of antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins that help regulate genes involved in fat and glucose metabolism.Plus, cherries contain fiber, which will keep you feeling full longer. Also, they contain many B-vitamins like thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6, which boost metabolism and aid in converting food into energy.

In addition, they had significantly lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than rats that were not given tart cherry powder.

Improves Memory

The high amount of antioxidants in cherries makes them one of the memory-boosting foods.Antioxidants play a key role in improving memory, learning and various other cognitive functions. They protect the brain from free radicals, which can harm healthy tissue and are associated with memory decline.

They also provide protection against age-related cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.Enjoy a handful of cherries daily for a snack to keep your memory sharp and intact for years to come.

Reduces Cancer Risk

Cherries contain good amounts of the antioxidants anthocyanin and quercetin, which help protect against cancer by fighting free radicals in the body.

Anthocyanins even help keep cancerous cells from growing out of control.They also contain numerous phytochemicals and nutrients that can help reduce the risk of cancers.

The high dietary fiber in cherries lowers the risk of colorectal cancer. Fiber also helps in maintaining body weight. This is important for reducing cancer risk, as excess body fat increases the risk of several cancers.